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As LSU  coach Ed Orgeron watches, background, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs the ball after catching his own batted pass during the first half of LSU's SEC Championship Game against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta.

 STAFF PHOTO BY BILL FEIG

Editor's note: This article is adapted from a December 2019 column from Scott Rabalais ahead of Joe Burrow's Heisman Trophy Ceremony. We have updated it ahead of Burrow's return to the Caesars Superdome this Sunday for the first time since the 2020 national championship game. 

Joe Burrow was a perfect 10 for the LSU Tigers in the 2019 season, surging to a 15-0 record, a national championship in the Tigers' first College Football Playoff appearance, and the crown jewel of any individual season, a Heisman Trophy.

How do you pick the 10 best plays Burrow had in that season? The most memorable? The most impactful? Often, and it isn’t hyperbole to say, Burrow had 10 memorable plays in a game.

Still, there are a few that stand out. We’ll count them down backward from 10 to 1, starting with:

10. The “Moonshot”: Burrow needed less than seven games to break the LSU single-season touchdown record with his 29th scoring toss coming late in the third quarter of a 36-13 victory Oct. 9 at Mississippi State. History will show the record came on an 18-yard scoring strike to Justin Jefferson.

The game, however, will be remembered for something else.

Early in the fourth quarter, Burrow was sacked by Bulldogs defensive end Chauncey Rivers. As Burrow tried to escape, Rivers grabbed hold of his belt and down came Burrow’s pants, exposing most of his backside to the Davis Wade Stadium crowd (including his grandparents) and a CBS television audience.

“I can honestly say that has never happened to me before in my life,” Burrow said with a laugh. “Hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Read our full story on the moment here.

9. Burrow to … Burrow: In the official play-by-play from last Saturday’s SEC Championship Game against Georgia, the line looks like a typo: “Joe Burrow across the middle pass complete to Joe Burrow for 16 yards to the UGA47.” Burrow’s first-down pass attempt from his 37 was swatted right back at him, so he grabbed the ball and took off running to his left for an easy, if highly unorthodox, first down. It was the first big play in a 37-10 rout that gave LSU its first SEC title since 2011.

8. So long, Florida: It was a back-and-forth battle when No. 7 Florida came to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 12 to take on No. 5 LSU. The Tigers fought back from a 28-21 deficit early in the third quarter to score the game’s final three touchdowns in a 42-28 victory. Moments after a Derek Stingley interception in the end zone to keep LSU in front 35-28, Burrow went long to a streaking Chase up the east sideline for a clinching touchdown with 5:43 left.

7. Burrow does it again: Early in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Oklahoma, the Tigers faced 3rd down deep in their own territory. The Sooners defense forced Burrow to scramble 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage as he looked for an open receiver.

He was stuck in a corner between the sideline and three Oklahoma defenders, but Burrow had found himself in this situation on this very same field a few weeks prior against Georgia.

As he was chased out of bounds, Burrow tossed the ball down the sideline as Terrace Marshall Jr. broke free and made the catch for the first down, leaving viewers in disbelief wondering how many times Burrow could pull off these miraculous passes.

6. Give him six: It wasn’t just one moment for Burrow in the Tigers’ Sept. 21 game at Vanderbilt, it was the performance overall. Burrow completed 25 of 34 passes for 398 yards and a school record six touchdown passes in the 66-38 scorefest in Nashville, Tennessee. Four touchdowns went to Chase, who had 229 yards on 10 catches, with one each to Jefferson and Racey McMath.

5. The eyes of Texas are amazed: Just before halftime Sept. 7 at Texas, Burrow and the Tigers engineered a breathtaking scoring drive, the kind of drive that LSU offenses past seemed incapable of producing. Starting from his 42 with 1:13 left, Burrow and the Tigers went no huddle as he threw 19 yards to Chase, 18 yards to Jefferson and 23 yards to Jefferson again for the score and a 20-7 halftime lead. The whole possession took 26 seconds, with the Longhorns’ defense never having time to get set.

4. Give him that ring: The national championship game is remembered today as a coronation for Burrow and the LSU offense, but the Tigers still faced pressure late in the game. After Cade York pushed a 42-yard field goal wide for a rare miss, the Tigers went into the final frame leading 35-25 against a still-dangerous Clemson team.

Needing insurance points to secure the title, Burrow stayed in the pocket until he found Thaddeus Moss inside the Clemson 40-yard-line. Four plays later, Burrow found Marshall with an end zone fade route to put the Tigers ahead by 17. After the play, he turned to the sideline and pointed at his ring finger, sending a message: Ring me.

3. Heisman moment, third place: Being such an overwhelming favorite, Burrow didn’t have just one Heisman moment. He had at least three. This bronze medal play came Nov. 9 in the fourth quarter at Alabama. With LSU up 39-34 and facing a third-and-2 at the Crimson Tide 25, Burrow waited a beat after the snap, took off on a zone read, eluded his opposite No. 9 Jordan Battle and scampered to the 7, setting up a Clyde Edwards-Helaire touchdown on the next play. “That might be a Heisman moment right there,” CBS announcer Brad Nessler said.” Would there was only one.

2. Heisman moment, runner up: Leading Texas 37-31 with less than three minutes left, things looked tenuous for LSU. Especially after Burrow was sacked, setting up a third-and-17 from the Tigers’ 39. It looked like LSU would end up punting and having to hang on with defense, but Burrow had other ideas. Stepping up against the rush with four defenders closing in, Burrow balanced on his left foot and threw a strike to Jefferson, who completed the 61-yard catch-and-run that was the difference in the Tigers’ 45-38 victory.

1. Heisman moment, Championship division: Maybe it’s because it’s the most recent, but it’s arguably the highlight with the most shelf life going forward. With LSU leading 20-3 against Georgia in the third quarter Saturday, Burrow twice spun around a pass rush from cornerback D.J. Daniel. Forced to his right, Burrow kept his eyes downfield and from his 13 launched a strike to Jefferson at the Georgia 45 (Jefferson was supposed to run a 6-yard route but saw his quarterback scrambling and took off). Three plays after Jefferson ran down to the 9, Burrow threw a 4-yard TD to Marshall to put LSU up 27-3 and essentially end the game and the Heisman conversation.

Staff writer Emily Mumola contributed to this report.

Email Scott Rabalais at [email protected]

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